Michael Haefliger, director of the Lucerne Festival, said the other day that the Cleveland Orchestra's first residency at the festival with Welser-MÖst was superb both in performance and repertoire, and Haefliger believes the conductor is the right person to take the orchestra into the future.

«It must be interesting for them to have a young conductor who has a more integrated, democratic look and who acts as a leader among equals," he said. "I certainly approve of this kind of conductor. It's not an ego trip. It's to get the best out of the music.»

Haefliger said the orchestra's management was courageous to «go for him and not one of the big names. Franz was known, but not as a superstar conductor.»

Cleveland is the only American orchestra in residence at the festival this year, but next year it will be joined by the Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. Among the works Welser-MÖst will conduct there in 2005 will be Mahler's Symphony No. 3 and Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis," with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.